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Passengers on Lanarkshire rail routes are set to be travelling on new trains in around five years’ time. Scotrail is inviting tenders for a fleet of at least 69 new trains to operate suburban services including the Argyle line between Glasgow and Motherwell, Larkhall and Lanark, the East Kilbride route, and the South Electrics including the Shotts line between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The train operator has issued an official procurement notice with potential suppliers having until January to submit bids, and the new trains expected to enter service in the early 2030s. Scotrail say two-thirds of their existing trains will need to be replaced within the next 15 years, and describe the announcement of the launch of the procurement process as “another significant step towards that”. The contract notice, for “electrical multiple units (emu) and battery electrical multiple units”, notes: “The anticipated supply is for a minimum of 69 trains, with a potential option for additional orders of up to approximately 37 trains.” Passengers on the new fleet can expect to see improvements such as “more comfortable journeys, improved on-board facilities such as modern air-conditioning, greater reliability, reduced emissions, increased accessibility such as level boarding, and active travel provision”. The process is being closely co-ordinated with Network Rail’s work to electrify key routes across the network, and Scotrail say: “New trains are an important factor in encouraging more people to leave the car at home and travel by rail, and investment in modern trains is central to providing a better experience for customers.” Chief operating officer David Ross said: “This is exciting news for our passengers who will benefit from these new trains in the years to come. “This is an essential step in making rail the easier, more attractive choice compared with travelling by car. We look forward to further discussions with potential suppliers as we continue to deliver a safe, reliable and green railway.” Scottish Government transport secretary Fiona Hyslop added: “Resilient Scotrail services are core to our objectives of a reliable railway that enables access to employment, education, and leisure opportunities. “This latest milestone in renewing older fleets demonstrates our commitment to making our publicly owned and operated rail services a success. We would encourage the market to engage with ScotRail on this opportunity.” * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook ? Head on over and give us a like and share!
